Missouri couple face charge after point guns at protestors

Married couple have been charged after pointing guns at racial injustice protestors outside their house in Missouri last month.

Mark, 63, and Patricia McCloskey, 61, who work as lawyers, have been charged with unlawful use of a weapon against demonstrators who marched through the grounds of their home in St Louis, on the 28th of June.

This charge which is seen as a Class E felony can result in prison sentences of up to four years.

Despite the fact that St Louis' top prosecutor said that the actions of the couple risked creating violence at a peaceful protest, Mr and Mrs McCloskey say that they armed themselves because they felt threatened and that they had a right to protect their property.

The couple also face a charge of fourth-degree assault. But their lawyer, Joel Schwartz, believes that the decision to press charges was "disheartening" as he believes "no crime was committed" and that there were some protestors that had threatened his clients.

The march was part of demonstrations against police brutality and racism prompted by the killing of unarmed black man, George Floyd, by a white policeman.